PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd did just about everything. First,
he nearly lost the game for the Phoenix Suns, then he nearly
single-handedly won it for them.

Kidd, who committed two turnovers that helped put the Suns in a
five-point hole with less than two minutes left, scored 11 of
his team's last 16 points, lifting Phoenix to an 84-79 victory
over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Kidd tied a career high with six steals and scored 25 of his 29
points in the second half, the most by any Phoenix play in a
half this season. He hit 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the
second half.

"He played very well tonight," Suns coach Scott Skiles said. "He
went through a rough spell, but made some big shots and big
plays for us. They were trying to get up on his right hand, so
he took a couple dribbles left and shot it and made it. When he
shoots the ball like that, he is as good a player in the league
that there is."

The 6-4 guard also dished out seven assists and grabbed six
rebounds. He hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter, when
the Suns rebounded from a 47-38 deficit with a 13-0 run. Kidd
capped it with a 3-pointer with 4:49 to play, putting Phoenix
up, 51-47.

"We allowed them to make a run and we weren't able to hold them
off," Portland forward Scottie Pippen said. "They got back in
the game and they had the momentum. They made all the big shots
... they made all of their shots. ThXืาwhat they do. They
spread you and they penetrate and make their plays."

Down the stretch, it was all Kidd. His two free throws gave
Phoenix a 74-72 lead with 2:31 left but he fouled Dale Davis as
the Blazers forward rolled for a layup. The free throw gave
Portland a 75-74 edge.

Kidd committed back-to-back turnovers and Portland took
advantage. Davis scored on a turnaround in the post and Steve
Smith cruised in for a basket that made it 79-74.

Former Blazer Cliff Robinson connected from 3-point range,
slicing the deficit to 79-77 with 1:30 left. Kidd nailed one
from long range with 51 seconds to play, putting the Suns up to
stay, 80-79.

It was Kidd whose defense forced Smith into an airball on the
Blazers' next possession and his jumper with 16 seconds to play
extended the lead to three points.

"He hit some big shots down the stretch and he was really
pushing the ball up," Davis said. "He made some tough plays
down the stretch that really hurt us."

The Suns improved to 31-0 alltime when they hold an opponent
under 80 points. They are 9-0 in those situations under Skiles.

Portland, which opened the season by dropping three of its first
four games, lost for just the fourth time in its last 15 but
slipped to 7-5 on the road.

Rasheed Wallace scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds,
Scottie Pippen added 15 points and Davis added 15 and 13 for the
Blazers, who showed the effects of playing back-to-back games on
the road.

The Blazers pulled out a 96-85 victory at Houston on Saturday
but did not have enough to repeat the trick against the Suns,
who improved to 9-1 at America West Arena.

Before Kidd got going, Phoenix struggled. He had just four
points and two assists at halftime and the Suns trailed, 36-31.
They shot just 31 percent (13-of-42) from the field but the
Blazers were not much better at 38 percent (13-of-34).

"It was pretty bad, I think," Kidd said. "The only thing people
will remember is the second half, so that's a good sign. That's
the game of basketball. You can come out and look pitiful one
half or one quarter and turn it around, and we came out and
turned it around and we made some big shots, and we made some
big defensive stands down the stretch."

The Suns' 13-point second quarter was their worst performance in
that period this season.